One Man’s Quest to Save Uganda’s Forests

Skyrocketing rates of deforestation in Uganda mean the country could have no forest left by 2050. Emerging Explorer and Great Energy Challenge grantee Sanga Moses is trying to change this. He founded Eco-fuel Africa, a social enterprise that helps farmers turn agricultural waste into clean and affordable cooking fuel for energy-poor households in Uganda.

Not only is their work greatly reducing the amount of trees cut down for firewood, but Eco-fuel Africa also empowers marginalized groups in the communities in which they work. School-aged girls, whose educations are often a casualty of days spent collecting firewood, can now devote more time to their studies. A vast network of women have become micro-retailers for the fuel briquettes, and village youth are being trained as business managers for briquetting micro-factories.

One Man’s Quest to Save Uganda’s Forests

Skyrocketing rates of deforestation in Uganda mean the country could have no forest left by 2050. Emerging Explorer and Great Energy Challenge grantee Sanga Moses is trying to change this. He founded Eco-fuel Africa, a social enterprise that helps farmers turn agricultural waste into clean and affordable cooking fuel for energy-poor households in Uganda.

Not only is their work greatly reducing the amount of trees cut down for firewood, but Eco-fuel Africa also empowers marginalized groups in the communities in which they work. School-aged girls, whose educations are often a casualty of days spent collecting firewood, can now devote more time to their studies. A vast network of women have become micro-retailers for the fuel briquettes, and village youth are being trained as business managers for briquetting micro-factories.